Life, 1912-09-05 · page 12 of 44
Life — September 5, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon satirizes U.S. Customs House procedures. It depicts an official roughly interrogating travelers at a dock, with a "POST NO BILLS" sign above. The caption "Hey, Jimmy! Watch this one" suggests abuse of authority during luggage inspection. The accompanying article describes complaints from women whose clothes were torn during searches, calling their treatment "sensibilities irritated." It also mentions a detective seizing an elderly gentleman, implying excessive zeal in tariff enforcement. The satire targets overzealous customs officials who harass honest travelers while supposedly protecting against smuggling. The cartoonist mocks both the officials' rough tactics and the bureaucratic pretense of legitimate government function. This reflects early-20th-century concerns about administrative overreach at ports of entry.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hey, Jimmy ! Our Custom (Special Cor USTOM HOUSE, September 3 1912, There is very little to report of interest. The routine work going on as usual. This morning several ladies who landed complained of having their clothes torn off and of having what they called their “ sensibilities” s” irri- tated. This happens so often, how- ever, that it is hardly worth mention- in A little later the report that one of these ladies had gone to a hotel and hanged herself from mortification ived Commissioner Loeb satisfaction, “A was re with conside Watch this one” House Letter cspondence to Lave) few more hangings like this,” said Loeb with a bright snrile, “and these women will learn that the nnet transgress the law. We'll show A reception is being planned by a oup of New England factory own- ers who are expected on the Lucania It is understood that the reception is in the form of a testimonial to Mr Loeb for his conscientious enforce- ment of the custom house laws. A detective seized an old gentleman and his aged wife to-day, returning from their trip abroad, An office boy in a Paris jewelry store had written a postal card stating that these old people had bought an imitation pearl necklace which possibly might be real, zs the old gentleman had displayed quite a roll of bills. When confronted with the postal card they both broke down and cried, and in order to. pre- vent false sentiment on the part of the spectators they were haled off to the Tombs. Their baggage has all been confiscated Quite a scene took place on the dock morning when a tall man, whose name is unknown, he was an American ci the principal object of the to make fortunes for a few magnates who controlled the industries of the country, while the rank and file of honest and respectable people were Leing constantly insulted and outraged by the hired representatives of the government. Although he had nothing dutiable to declare and no evidence could be found against him, his trunks were all unpacked and their contents scattered over the wharf as a lesson to him. A training school for our custom house officers will shortly be inaugu- rated. ne course includes baggage searching, insolent indifference to pro tests of travelers, seizing goods on the slightest suspicion, and the undressing and searching of women, ICH MENT WORKER: If it will interest you young peo- ple, 1 will tell you about some of the European cathedrals. East Siner: Which moving picture show did youse see ’em in? BASEBALL TALK “Early in the game he knocked out a long one” comicboo! —w vo rs